Means for connecting superheater-flues to flue-sheets of locomotives.



r P. P. GALLAGHER; MEANS FOR GONNECTING SUPERHE ATBRFLUES T0 PLUE SHEETS OP LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION FILED .MAR. 28, 1914.

Patented Dec. 29, 1m.

B V D c In I a r I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

"PET R r. GALLAGHER, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR or FORTY-NINE ONE- HUNDREDTHS TO PHILIP CONNIFIE, OF BALTIlVIORE,'MARYLAND.

MEANS FOR CQNNECTING SUPERHEATER-FLUES TO FLUE-SHEETS F LOCOMOTIVES.

Application filed March 38, 1914. Serial N 0. 827,946.

To all whom it'may concern.

Be i known that I, PETER GALLAqnEa,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Yhereby declare the following to be a'full,

clear, and exact description 'of the. inven tion, such as will enable others skilled in the? art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, and to the letters-and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for connecting su- 'perheater flues to superheater flue sheets of locomotives, the ,object in view being to make a connection without impairingthe efliciency orstrength of the sheet and corn- .prises essentially the offsetting and reinforcing of the margin of theopening inthe flue sheet by forming an integral flange within which the flue is fastened and in; the provision of a circular flexible corrugation about the flange in order to compensate for expansion and. contraction of the metal, af-

appended claims.

fording a greater degree 'offlexibility of the flue sheet.

Another and an important feature of the present invention consists in the provision of a circular corrugation about an integral flanged opening in which the flue is fastened and whereby the flue receiving flanges are offset beyond the surface? of the hue sheet on the water side to protect the flues from the intense heat of the flames on the fire side.

Still another and important feature of the invention is the provisionof means for welding the ends of the flues to the flanges in such a manner as to secure increased strength of connection and maximum security against breakage or leakage at the joint.

My invention comprises various details of construction and combinations and arrangeinents of parts which will be hereinafter full described, shown in the accompanying drawing and then specifically defined in the Specification of Letters Patent.

angular Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

openings and flues, and illustrating clearly the connection of the flues with the sheet. Fig. 2 is a sectional View through the parts shown in Fig. 1, taken on a horinzontal line through the center of the flues.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a superheater flue sheet of a locomotive, said sheet having a series of flue receiving openings B about or in line with which are arranged the circular flanges C which receive the ends of the superheater fluesD. These fiues inclose the ordinary su erheater pipes or units, as will be readi y understood. These flanges are integral with and are punched from the material of the sheet, as shown. Each flange B is internally of true circular form and of proper diameter to fully receive and inclose .the end of the flue, the flange thus being substantially throughout its length in contact with the end of the flue to support the latter to a maximum degree. About each flange is a circular corrugation E of a sufficient depth to form a groove or channel on the water side of the sheet for the circulation of water about the end of the flue, as willbe readily understood by reference to Fig. 2-. This corrugation is integral with the body of the sheet and joints the base of the flange to the sheet, and thus forms a reinforcing and connecting medium between the flange and sheet. As shown, the outer end of each flange is welded to the flue sheet therein, as indicated at C in Fig. 2, while the inner end of each flue projects into the flue opening and is welded to the flange and wall of the opening, as indicated at D. At this point of intersection of the flange-and flue wall, the said parts'are flared to provide a space between the same and the projecting end of theflue to snugly receive a welding filler of (triangular) form, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 whereby the joint is further strengthened and rendered proof against leakage. To further securely hold the flue to the flange, suitable fastening means may be used, such as tapering screws F passing through registering threaded apertures in the wall or the hue and theflange, but the use of these or analogous t'astenings is not essential.

, The flues Dare what are commonlyknown as superheater flues, designed to receive thesuperheater pipes or units in locomotives of the superheater class, wherein the steam is superheated to a high degree and the flue joints must stand a working pressure of from 190 to 225 pounds per square inch of boiler surface and a temper ature of approximately 612 F ahr.

and of large diameter, and subjected WIth. the flue sheets to intense temperatures and pressures at the joints, great difliculty is ex perienced in preventing cracking or warp-- ing of the flue sheets and cracking or leakage of the flues at their points of connection with the sheets. In addition to the factors of high and-variable degrees of expansion and contraction, which tend to warp and disruptthe parts,"ja further difliculty is experienced inthe pressures brought to bear against the sheets and ends of the tubes by the bending and depression of the tubesgmder their own weight when they are not floating in and supported by the body of water in the boiler, as when the water is removed in washing out or repairing the boiler, resulting in an up and down motion which tends to cause breakage or leakage atthe joints. My invention is designed to overcome all of these objections and to provide a flueconnection which will be absolutely fluid tight and of proper strength and durability, as well as flexibility, to support the weight of the flue and to permit it to expand and contract Twith the flue sheet without breaking or cracking the parts or causing leakage at the joints. By punching each flange C out of the material of the subjected. The corrugationalso'brings the flange and-flue end outwardly beyond the plane of the fire sideot the sheet.- so asfto be out of the'direct fire line and to form an annular channel or recess about the flue and corrugation on the water side of the sheet,

by which theaforesaid parts are better protected against the heat of the flange. By

the structure" described the .nd of the flue,

As such flues are comparatively long, weighty seat flange are ofi'set from the fire line, thus preventing them from becoming unduly heated and unduly expanding and contracting or cracking.

By flaring the flange and wall of the flue opening at their point of intersectlon an angular recess isprovided between said wall and the end of the'flue which permits of the interposition of avv welding filler whereby the surfaces may be homogeneously united and connection obtained which is absolutely proof against leakage while uniting the elements against any possibility of separation.

The advantages of the invention in preventing buckling, cracking or leakage, and in extending the life and eficiency of the boiler, will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description.

' What I claimto be new is: a

1. A flue sheet having an opening therein, a circular flue receiving flange, and a corrugation about the base of said flange and joining the same to the flue sheet.

2. A flue sheet having an opening therein, a circular flue receiving flange, and acp1fru,1 gation about the base of said flange and joining the same to the flue sheet, said flange and corrugation being offset from the plane of the flue .sheet. 1

A flue sheet having an opening therein, 7 a circular flue receiving flange, and a corrugation about the base of said flange and joining the same to the flue sheet, said corrugation being internally flared to "form with the inserted end of the flue a weld. filler receiving angle between said corruga tion and the end of the fine.

{.t. A fiuesheet having an opening therein, a circular flue receiving. flange, and a corrugation pressed with said flange outot the mateiialof the flue sheet and joining said i flange at its base to the, body of thesheet,

said flange and corrugation being' ofl'set' from the plane of the sheet.

5. A flue sheet having an opening therein, a circular flange, a corrugation pressed with the flange out of the sheet and joining said flange at its base to the sheet, said flange and corrugation being offset from the plane of the sheet and said corrugation flared at .its junction with the flange, a tube having its end inserted through the flange and proecting into theflared portion of the corruga tion to provide an intervening angular recess, anda filler inserted into said recess and welded tothe corrugation and project-' ing end of, the tube.

6. In a superheater flue connection, a flue sheet having-a flueopeningtherein, a cylindrical fiange n l ne with the opening, a cir-' cular corrugation connecting thefla'nge with the. wall of the. opening and otfset from the plane of the sheet, said flange and In testimony wnereof I hereunto aflix my iorrugation beiig internally flared, a flue signature in presence of two witnesses.

aving its en extending through said a flange and terminating in line with said 7 PETER GALLAGHLR 5 flared portion to provide a' recess, and a Witnesses:

Welding filler inserted in said recess an E. J. RATHBUX; J13,

uniting the aforesaid parts. I A. R. FOWLER. 

